The credit crunch could be holding couples together this Christmas as a drop in the divorce rate suggests families can't afford to split during the festive season.
Official figures revealed a 26 per cent drop in the number of divorces filed in the UK in 2007 – with a two per cent decrease in Scotland – but experts predict that the figures are set to rise after Christmas as the impact of the property downturn and rising cost of living is piling the pressure on Scots families.
Sandra Sutherland, solicitor at leading legal firm Thorntons and accredited by the Law Society of Scotland as a family law specialist, said: "Financial worries are a common cause of problems in family life, and there is usually an upturn in family law referrals shortly after Christmas – once the credit card bills come in, couples begin to bicker and disagree about how bills are to be paid."
Sandra, who is based in Thorntons' Arbroath office, explained that some couples are being forced to live separate lives under the same roof as a result of the housing market crash.
"Thefall in house prices and slowdown of sales may leave couples finding that there is insufficient equity in the property to allow the main capital asset – in this case the property – to be sold. Many have to wait much longer to find a buyer or a decent mortgage deal to transfer the property to one of the partners.
"Before the credit crunch, it was fairly easy to get lenders to agree to take one of the names off the mortgage but we are now finding lenders are being more difficult.
"I have seen many of these scenarios more often in the last couple of months.For example – a couple who had planned to separate decided to continue to live their own separate lives in the same house under the same roof until house prices rise again."
However, the situation is expected to worsen before it gets better. The predicted rise in unemployment in 2009 may also have a significant effect on divorce rates.
Sandra added: "Not only does unemployment cause stress relating to financial worries, it can also add stress as couples are together for longer periods than normal.Couples who sometimes stay together for financial security may decide to separate if the reason for continuing with their cohabitation has gone.
Issued by Beattie Communications on behalf of Thorntons Solicitors.
Contact: Kimberley Hamilton, Tel 01698 787878